Family pays tribute to M62 victim

Bethany Jones, 18, was killed in a horrific motorway crash on the M62, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire

A bride-to-be remains seriously ill in hospital after a minibus carrying friends and family to a hen party was involved in a motorway crash.

Bethany Jones, 18, was killed and eight women seriously injured when their bus collided with a lorry on the M62 near Pontefract, West Yorkshire on Friday.

The family of the teenager, reported to be studying for a nursing degree at Leeds University, said she would never be forgotten.

"Beth was a fun and bubbly girl who was caring and considerate to everyone she met," they said. "She was the apple of her grandad's eye and she will never be forgotten and sadly missed by everyone."

The crash happened at about 11.30am on Friday after the hen party set off from nearby South Elmsall to travel to Liverpool.

In total 21 women were injured in the collision. Eight remain in hospital in a "serious but stable condition", West Yorkshire Police said, one of whom is in intensive care. Among them is the bride-to-be, named in reports as Stefanie Firth.

The driver of the lorry was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been released on bail, police said.

The collision, near a motorway slip road, left the minibus on its side across a carriageway and luggage strewn across the motorway. One patient, a woman in her 40s, suffered suspected serious chest injuries and was anaesthetised before being transported, while another was airlifted to hospital also with chest injuries.

Firefighters called the crash "the worst they had seen in a number of years", and six air ambulances helped rush the victims to nearby hospitals.

Police have urged anyone who is concerned about a family member or who witnessed the crash to contact them on 101.